The departure of Jeff Fisher as head coach of the Tennessee Titans leaves the team management with the daunting task of finding an adequate replacement while avoiding a conflict with affirmative action's gift to pro football known as the "Rooney Rule.''

Finalized in 2003 and named after Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, who headed the NFL committee leading to its creation, this bylaw stipulates that any team with a head coaching vacancy must interview at least one minority candidate in good faith or face commissioner sanctions.

I am not sure why Rush Limbaugh would want to own an NFL team. It is surely more fun to criticize the establishment on a daily basis than to become part of it. Leaving that aside, the last person in the world who should have a say in the matter is Al Sharpton. (The next to last is his mentor Jesse Jackson.)

Sharpton has written a letter to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell saying the NFL should reject Limbaugh’s bid. Yesterday the New York Times actually referred to Sharpton’s group, the National Action Network, as “a civil rights organization,” demonstrating the legitimacy that Sharpton has somehow come to enjoy in recent years. Let’s see if Goodell will further elevate Sharpton’s stature by responding in a serious way.